Ghanshyam Bowls Akshar A To Big Victory in Nakuru

Thanks to Shailesh in Nakuru for the update.

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Tournament favourites Akshar A registered their first victory from their very first outing in the Akshar League in Nakuru when they took on VOC in the 4th game of the competition. VOC had already accounted for Akshar B in the first game, so the result was important to Akshar if they wanted their title credentials to be taken seriously. Winning the toss, Akshar A surprisingly decided to bat on a slightly damp wicket, and VOC bowlers straight away took advantage of the morning mist and dew by bowling full and allowing the ball to swing. Akshar A lost their first wicket to the very first ball when Divyang was bowled by Ketan by a ball that swung prodigiuosly. VOC struck again in the second over and kept on applying pressure. In return, the Aksar A batsmen counter attacked by playing shots in an attempt to spread the tight field.
Pardip and Mandip added 20 runs in 2 overs, until they both fell victims to some good bowling. Again Batuk finding himself among the wickets. Akshar A were reeling at 5-82 when the captain, Jogesh was joined at the crease by Dilip. In an effort to consolidate, they saw off the first ten overs, and then started to attack the bowlers. They put on a 77 run partnership for the 6th wicket and steered the innings away from any further collapse.
As the day progressed and the sun dried the pitch, it became easier to bat, and the lower order chipped in with some lofty hitting in the final overs. Akshar A finished with 7-248, a sizeable score from their 45 overs.

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In reply, VOC were never in the hunt as wickets fell at regular intervals and the batsman had no answer to Ghanshaym's pace bowling. He took 6 wickets for the match, 3 of which were clean bowled. A fantastic effort from him, and ensured that Akshar A earned maximum points, while restricting VOC to bowling points only. Akshar will have left the pitch full of confidence for the rest of the season. VOC have been brought back down to earth after their early win, and will be looking to improve in the remaining matches, especially their batting.

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Akshar A Innings
Divyang.......................Bowled.............Ketan...........00
Pragnesh.....................Ct Dipak..........Batuk...........02
Pardip.........................Ct Khilan..........Naren..........17
Mandeep.....................Bowled.............Batuk...........08
HArshil.......................Ct Naren...........Manish........27
Dilip............................Ct Sagar...........Jayesh..........33

Jogesh........................Ct Sagar............Shanti..........25
Drruv..........................Bowled..............Shanti..........06
Deval..........................Not out...................................34
Ketan..........................LBW..................Batuk...........11
Ghanshyam...............Ct Batuk.............Manish........15
Extras........................................................................70
Total All Out.............................................................248
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VOC Innings
Naren......................Ct Mandeep......Ghanshyam....03
Ketan......................Ct Pardip...........Ghanshyam....00
Jayesh Snr.............Ct Mandeep........Dilip...............08
Dipak......................LBW..................Ghamshyam....00
Batuk......................Bowled...............Ghanshyam....04
Shanti.....................Bowled...............Ketan..............03
Jayesh Jnr..............Bowled...............Ghanshyam....03
Sagar......................Bowled...............Ghanshyam....04
Vishal.....................Ct & B................Jogesh.............02
Kavit......................Ct Pardip............Ketan..............00
Khilan....................Not out.......................................00
Extras.........................................................................21
Total..........................................................................48

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Points Standings after 4 games:

TEAM............Plyd....Won....Lost....Bat....Bowl....Win....Total
VOC................2.........1..........1..........1........8..........12..........21
KERICHO.......1.........1..........0.........4........4..........12.........20
AKSHAR.A.....1.........1..........0.........4........4..........12.........20
ELDORET.......1.........1..........0.........1........4..........12..........17
DIAMOND.....1.........0..........1.........0........4..........0...........4
NAIVASHA....1.........0..........1.........0........3..........0...........3
AKSHAR.B.....1.........0..........1.........1.........2..........0...........3